Beet Ice Cream with Mascarpone, Orange Zest, and Poppy Seeds

We are starting a summer tradition called Ice Cream Sunday, featuring unique (and hopefully delicious) ice cream flavors.

This is what we (and by "we", I mean Vernon) made today. It is based on this recipe. It was really yummy.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups milk

4 tsp. cornstarch

1-1/4 cups heavy cream

2/3 cup sugar

2 tbsp. maple syrup

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Peel of 1 orange

3 tbsp. mascarpone cheese, softened

1/2 cup puréed roasted beets

2 tbsp. poppy seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a bowl, stir together 1/4 cup milk and the cornstarch; set aside. In a 4-qt. saucepan, whisk together remaining milk and the cream, sugar, syrup, and salt; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add orange peel. Cook for 4 minutes; stir in milk/cornstarch mixture. Return to a boil and cook, stirring, until thickened, about 2 minutes.

2. Place mascarpone cheese in a bowl and pour in 1/4 cup hot milk mixture; whisk until smooth. Then whisk in remaining milk mixture; stir in beets. Pour mixture into a plastic bag; seal, and submerge in a bowl of ice water until chilled.

3. Remove orange peel. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker; process according to manufacturer's instructions, adding poppy seeds during the last minute of churning. Transfer ice cream to a storage container and freeze until set.

Most Popular Things People Search for and Find My Blog

Here is a list of the most popular things people search for and find my blog:

1) Some form of the name Goofy Mama (goofymama, goofy mama blog, goofy mama blogspot)
2) Chris Gaines
3) Lotus Birth
4) Walking Wings
5) Katy Perry Movie
6) Bristol Stool Chart
7) How to Jack Off

(So, now I know what I need to write more about if I want to get people's attention.)

And these are my most popular blog posts of all-time (half of them are recipes that have appeared on Foodgawker.com):

1) Greek Pastitsio
2) Stuff My Husband Has Put Into My Vagina
3) Macaroni and Cheese Pizza
4) Seven Layer Tortilla Pie
5) Sail My Vessel
6) Strawberry Chicken Salad
7) Chicken Chow Mein
8) The Katy Perry Movie
9) My Before and After Pictures
10) Coconut Oil is the Best Natural Lubricant Ever!

		(An enormous number of people have searched and found #2 just this week. Why? I don't know. Okay. Yes, I do.)

Brownies

Yesterday, our downstairs neighbor boy came up and told us he had some brownies for us. (They oftentimes send up treats for us to eat.) So we were all excited to eat these brownies, and we uncovered the plate, and all that was on it was a bunch of brown colored letter 'E's.

So disappointing (yet so very, very clever).

Happy April Fool's Day to us.

What I Should Conquer Next

Vern said to me, "Do you know what you should try to conquer next?"

I said, "Poker?"

"No."

"Rock Climbing?"

"No."

"Bowling?"

(These were all things I was thinking of mastering.)

"No."

"What then?"

"You should work on not punching someone in the face when they tickle you."

(I don't actually punch people in the face, but I do kind of make the motion like I'm going to punch them in the face. It's, like, a knee-jerk reaction that I just can't help. Apparently, I need to conquer that.)

Walnut Cake with Mascarpone Cream

I made this for Easter, because I couldn't find all of the ingredients for tiramisu (where the heck does one find ladyfingers anyway???). The original recipe came from here. It's supposed to be a coffee cake, but I didn't have coffee, so I just made it without.

Also, it should be noted, as seen in the photo, that I should have let the cake cool completely before frosting it. There is supposed to be a middle layer of frosting, but it all got smooshed in and absorbed into the cake.

Cake

• 1 cup walnuts (about 4 ounces), toasted, chopped, divided
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 large eggs
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup buttermilk

Coffee-mascarpone cream

• 4 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) mascarpone cheese*
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  3/4 cup (about 3 ounces) walnuts, toasted, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Vern's Blog Posts

From approximately 2005 through 2007, Vern had a blog on MySpace. I was reading through some of his entries, and I thought I would post some of the highlights here, on occasion (like, on the occasion when I can't think of anything else to write about). Enjoy.


This one is from January 21, 2007:

I (and by extension, the whole family) was listening to a cd today while making whole wheat pancakes when Allison asked who was singing the song that was playing. I told her that it was Jet.
To which she inquired, "From the 80's?"
To which I responded, "No, I believe that would be The Jets."
To which she said something about seeing them live when she was in Girl Scouts.
End Scene.


And this one from October 3, 2006:

And what's all the fuss about Grey's Anatomy? Allison flipped to it during Supernatural's commercial breaks last week. Is it supposed to be a comedy or a drama or what? I couldn't tell, and it didn't seem to do either one very well. All I can say is that it's no Scrubs.  

Ocean's 10th Birthday

My lovely daughter, Ocean, turned ten yesterday. Here is what we did: